Local slo-pitchers ready for championships

Whistler will be entering both mens and womens teams in the Molson Slo-Pitch national championships in Whistler this weekend, which started on Aug. 2 with a skills competition and will finish with the finals on Sunday.

The womens team has announced their roster and schedule for the tournament, which will determine the womens "C" division champions for the whole country. A total of 24 womens teams and from across the country will attend the tournament. There will also be 42 mens teams.

The Whistler womens team, which is sponsored by Windermere Sea to Sky Real Estate, is Krista Hirvonen, Ronna Hurd, Laura Wetaski, Candice Graham, Sue Dixon, Cindy Tripp, Justine Ewart, Sheryl Williams, Sonia Snead, Susie McCance and Cindy Depattie. There could be some last minute adjustments and changes to the roster.

Their first game is scheduled for Spruce Grove Friday, Aug. 3 at 5:20 p.m. against the H&R Block Rebels from Whitehorse.

The next day they play their first game at 9:20 a.m. in Meadow Park against Total K-oss from Toronto. At noon, they play a team from Whitecourt, Alberta, at Myrtle Philip. At 2:40, they play a team from Regina, also at Myrtle Philip. The fifth game is set for Sunday against an unnamed team.

According to coach Glen Howe, the team has practised at least once a week for the past five weeks to prepare for the tournament. Most of the roster played together as a team at the womens over 33 nationals last year, making it to the playoff round on Sunday.

"Its a smaller ball were using for the tournament, so its a little bit different than what weve used in the past. Its taking a bit of getting used to, throwing it and hitting it, but one girl is hitting it out of the park," says Howe.

"They should be competitive they all relax and have some fun out there."

The roster and schedule for the mens team had not been announced as of press time.